Attachment for stringed instruments



G. MALVICA.

' APPLICATION FILED APR.26, I920.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

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INVENTOR ATTORNEY e. MALVICA. ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

- APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1920. 1,404,131 I I P ented Jan. 17, 1922.

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INVENTOR ATTORNEY PATENT OFFICE.

GIUSEI'PE MALVICA, 0:9 PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED INST RUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

Application filed April 26, 1920. Serial No. 376,827.

To a l whom it ma concern:

Be it'know'nthat I, Grnsnrrn MALVIOA, subject ct theiKing of Italy,residing at ittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State'o'f Pnnsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Attachments .ior Stringed Instruments, of which the toltion is read in connection withthe accomparry drawings.

in the drawing. v

1 is planview of astring instrun'ient withthe invention applied thereto.

Fi 2 is a side elevation of the same.

{Bis an end view. 1 1

alis a scctionon the line 4l- 1 of e 1.

is a detailed perspective view of ring arch. urc G is a sectional viewtaken on a gitudinally of the strings. nct'erring in detail to thedrawings, wherein lilze characters of reference denote corr spendingparts, there is illustrated a i153: instrument which includes a head 10,a ree 11 and strings 12, the latter being the l i spaced trom the headby means of the usual bridge 13. The foregoing structure is or" theusual construction, the invention residing in the provision of a devicewhich is detachably and adjustably secured to the instrument.

This device comprises a member 14 which is preferably formed of springwire and has its ends bent substantially at right angles for insertionin clamps 15 provided upon opposite sides of the instrument head.

he right angular portions of the member 1-lare adjusta ly secured inposition by means of setscrews 16, so that the intermediate portion ofthe member, which extends across the banjo head may be adjusted withrespect thereto. The member 14 further includes an oiiset portion 17which is curved downwardly and positioned directly over and spaced abovethe strings between the tailpiece and the bridge, so that it may beeasily depressed into contact with the strings. ny providingt-he oiisetcurved portion 17, the right angled portions of the member 14 may be ofsufiicient length to afford greater flexibility and thus increase theeffective actionot the device. Looped around the ofiset portion 17 ofthe member 1 1 is a flexible member which. is formed of any suitablematerial and whose ends are secured to the instrument head by anydesired means; for example, by the fastening device which secures thetail piece to the instrument. 7 This offset portion 17 of the member 1 1has a tendency to maintain the loop of the flexible member in properposition.

In the use of the invention, the member leis adjusted to its properposition, with the offset portion 17 slightly spaced above the strings12. In playing the instrument, the wrist or ball of the hand whichisused for picking the strings, rests upon the flexible member, thelatter being indicated at 18. A'slight pressure upon this member 18ivilldepress the offset portion 17 into contact with the strings to vary thetone of the latter. Thus the device may be used to produce'a tremulousor vibrating tone, by alternately pressing the same upon and permittingit to rise from the strings, or it may be held in contact with thestrings to soften the tone after the manner of a mute.

The invention is susceptible of Various changes in its form, proportionsand minor details of construction and the right is here in reserved tomake such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. The combinationwith a stringed instrument including a head, of a spring membcr securedto the rim of the head and extending transversely over the strings andcapable of being depressed into contact therewith.

2. The combination with a stringed instrument including a head, of aresilient member secured to the rim of the head and normally extendingtransversely over the strings, said member comprising vertically Vstrument includinga'head, of a sprin'gmemdisposed arms and a barconnecting the arms and meansfor adjustably securing the arms to therim. 7

3. The combination with a stringed instrument including a head, 'of'avertically adjustable spring member secured to the rim of "the. head andextending over the strings and capable of'being depressed into contacttherewith. V I i 4. The combination with a stringed inberf hav'ing eachof its ends adjnstably secured to therim ofthe head and extending over.tlie'strings and capable of being de-,

pressed into contact therewith anda flexible member extending. aroundthe spring mem-.

hand restconnected to, said member and providing'mean's for depressingthe same.

' 6.}Tlie'gcomb natioii with a stringed 1n- 'strumentlincludinga head,of a spring member-secured; to .theqr'im of the. head and extending overthe strings and capable of being,, depressed into. contact therewith anda strip offiexible material passing around sai'dmember andsecured tosaid rimjtoprovidelacombin'ed handrest and member depressing; means.

7. The combination with a, stringediinstrumentjrincluding ahead, ofaspring mem-f ber,gsai d inenlber comprisingvertically disposedarmsandabar connecting the arms,

sockets located upon opposite sides of the rim of the instrument head.for receiving the arms, means for-adjustably holding the arms within thesockets, whereby the bar will be positioned transversely over and spacedabove the stringsin a manner to permitt of said bar beingdepressed intocontact with the strings to vary the tone. 7

8. The combination with a stringed instrument including a head, ofaspring memher secured to the head and extending over i the strings andcapable of being depressed into contact therewith and a hand restconnected to said member andjp'rovidingmeans for depressing the same;

I 9; The combination with a stringed in-i' strument'including ahead, ofa springmember secured to the headand extending over thef'strin'gs andcapable of'being depressed 7 into; contact therewith'and a strip offlexible material passing around the member and secured to saidhead'toprovide acombined handcrest and member depressing. means.

, l0ijThe'combination with a stringed 1 str unentincluding a head, of aspring memher, said member comprising vertically disposedarms anda barconnecting the arms, sockets" located upon opposite sides of theinstrument head fon receiving the arms,

means for adjustably holding the arms within the jsockets,vwhereby thebar will be positioned transversely over andspaced above the strings ofthe instrument in a manner to permit of its being depressed into contact therewith to vary the tone.

In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature.

, GIUSEPRE; MALVICA.

